Helen Woodward Animal Center Reviews

Based off of our experience, Helen Woodward does not take enough care into placing their animals into fitting homes. We came in with a list of temperamental/behavioral requirements since we already have a low energy dog, live in an apartment, and both work full time. Because of that, we knew we had a slim chance of finding a good fit. However, they gave us a list of 4 dogs to view that supposedly fit the bill. We ended up taking one home after the staff reassured us that she met almost all of our marks. However, we quickly found out that they were wrong. She attacked the neighborhood kids unprovoked, was extremely high energy even after 2 hours of chasing a ball daily, and aggressively resource guarded (she attacked us and our dog multiple times, but only when food/toys were involved). We understand that it's impossible to guarantee anything about a rescued stray, but the shelter should have done a thorough behavioral screening and picked up on some of these traits. We made the tough decision to surrender her back to Helen Woodward in hopes that they would use our detailed profile of her to find her a better home that could give her the level of attention that she needs. At the Center, there were two other parties surrendering their rescues who were holding the same blue adoption folders as us. This makes me believe that Helen Woodward irresponsibly places dogs and then profits off their remarkably high adoption fee multiple times until they find it's forever home. We are heart broken to have welcomed a new family member into our life, only to find out that we would not be able to make her happy in the long run.

They were super rude and have way too many requirements just to meet with the animals

Adopted two kittens 10 years ago. These have proven to be the best socially adjusted cats I've ever adopted!

A sweet pup we adopted was aggressive towards our other dog. The center warned us about other animals, but not this one. Furthermore, their telephone line is atrocious. Not to mention that half of the calls that I try to make are dropped.

The people who work here are incredibly rude and judgemental. After my horrible experience with them (two middle aged women who seemed like employees) I spoke to other people who are active in dog rescue (time and money) who have had horrible experiences with the employees. I found out that these same women have been the cause of many volunteers quiting. Spoke to another who walked out after being treated poorly by the same staff and has since pulled all her donations. My family will also no longer be donating anything here.

The consensus was that the Rancho Coastal Human society is the best rescue organization in San Diego. I urge you to donate money outside if Helen Woodward. They really have become a glorified pet store. (If you see what animals they have for adoption right now, I will bet that the majority of them are extremely cute puppies with aroption fees of over $500 - $450 adoption fee + $55 for the chip).

I should add that I got blamed and scolded by one of the employees when the two dogs sleeping next to each other in the picture attached started barking at another dog. I think it is pretty clear that both dogs are 100% ok with me being there, yet I get the blame when someone walks by with a dog.

This is hands down the best rescue in all of the San Diego area.

Clean!! The animals are very well cared for, the staff is phenomenal.

I adopted kitten brothers and they are the best cats I have ever had.

Great puppies and dogs to choose from. Painless, same day adoption procedure.

Great place. Extremely compassionate and helpful staff.

They were AMAZING. The highest complaint I have is that they couldn't always answer the phone, but it wasn't a big deal. INCREDIBLY nice, VERY understanding. We made an appointment not long ago and only then realized just how long the waits were, 3+ months. We called and asked if there was anything we could to to speed up the process and they assured us that they frequently got cancels and to call the day before you could go to see if they had any cancellations. We did yesterday and were surprised to hear that they didn't only have one cancellation but two! We took it and made the long drive down and met our precious puppy, she hasn't shown any signs of bad behaviors (except she needs to be house broken, which we were kinda expecting). The people there were SO. NICE. Even the person running the little in house shop (with very handy supplies, like in case you forgot a leash like us) was very friendly. You could tell they all loved their jobs. We met our girl as the second or third one and immediately showed interest, thought we looked at the rest just in case and the lady helping us didn't rush us at all and warned us of the various behavioral issues (not surprising, they're strays) and we had a little meet with her. She practically instantly came up and sat on my lap and we knew she was perfect. We did have to wait a while, but not very long, and the nice couple we chatted with made it go by really quickly. They we just went over stuff and boom! She was ours.

Best bet experience anywhere. They genuinely care about you and your pet and it shows!

Great place to adopt a pet. Not a cheap rescue, but worth checking out if you're looking for a new furry friends

It's an awesome place but I wanted to volenteer with the animals but u have to be 14 years and older

Great place., well treated pups and full grown dogs. Adoption fees are a little high in my opinion.

My girlfriend and I adopted our dog from Helen Woodward and we couldn't be happier with her. She came to us with very good habits (e.g. we can always take food away from her without her being possessive.) I do wish we were able to fully insure our dog as we adopted her with three legs, but I'm not sure they could do anything about this as she came to the shelter with a bad leg. That's more of an insurance qualm (insurance companies like Embrace are terrible and don't care at all about your pets.)

Outstanding pet adoption center but be prepared to lay out more than $500.00 for any dog that you adopt.

Not very happy. We went in this Saturday and adopted a dog. As we were walking out he was making a weird sound... I thought maybe he was pulling on the leash too much since he isn't trained... The next morning the dog was gagging and nothing coming out. Took him to the vet today, and he was diagnosed with Kennel Cough.

$100 vet bill, no big deal. But for them to charge an already pretty outrageous adoption fee (over $300) and claim he had been seen by a vet and not treated for an obvious ailment is unacceptable. Kennel cough is contagious and put our other dog at risk.

I did e mail the center which hasn't responded yet. They offer a free vet exam if used within 10 days, but we live in south county and getting up to Rancho Santa Fe is near impossible during the week.

We adopted a puppy on Sunday and it s Monday and he s already so sweet and his personality is so nice and he s really healthy. The staff are super friendly and helpful and there are same day adoptions. The prices are a little high but the dogs come microchipped and spayed/neutered and they give u some extra tickets to sea world and hornblower

Two of my dogs were trained here. I was awed but the loving respect each person shows to the animals here. In the training classes I was taught to teach my dog to go to the bathroom descriptively upon command. I m the envy of all of my friends. This is a place to fully respect for the treatment of animals and their vast compassionate knowledge.

Great mission, expensive adoption fees. Under construction. And amazing resale shop with 100% proceed back to animals

My daughter and Son-in-law just adopted a beautiful 3 month old puppy. The staff and selection of puppies were great. I have another grandanimal

It was a bit difficult to get help here, and disability access to the main facility and the dog kennels could be better. Also, when we visited there were very few dogs available for adoption. That is not necessarily a bad thing, for the dogs at least. The fact that this center follows the no-kill model is certainly a plus.

ZERO STARS !!! NOT A RESCUE IT'S A PUPPY SELLING BUSINESS!!! I paid 500 bucks for a 16 week old puppy a month and a half ago. They told me to wait two weeks to get her 2nd shots. Our vet said no you need to wait a month to build immunity. So at 20 weeks we got her shots and took her out. She was great at walking but when a dog would approach her she snapped out of fear, it was the same at the dog park. We got her into training and opted to pay more and go for the private training instead of the group. The trainer said she was very fearful because something had happend to her to make her that way. She was more than likely running out on her own. Last week she bit my 8 yr old son (not seriously) when he went to pet her. She is afraid of my son but respects my older daughter. We noticed she takes more to older kids and prefers females. She would be great in an adult only home or with older kids that can respect her space. Our local trainer suggested we return her to H.W. out of the safety of my children and it would be the best for the puppy too. She said the dog needs lots of time because it's no longer obedience training she needs behavioral modifications. We contacted H.W. and after several unreturned phone calls and messages left they finally called us back and asked us to go meet with their trainer on site. We went down right away and met Rob (who is amazing by the way!) and he totally agreed that she needed behavior modification and should go to a home with older kids. Great pup just needs adult friends. He actually even told us to contact a sanctuary because they would be more helpful in finding her a home. (I think he had a feeling H.W. wouldnt take her back.) We went in to talk to a manager while there and her first response was "don't expect a refund, I don't think we have ever issued one of those and we never will." WOW we told them we didn't want a refund and wanted what was best for our dog and our family. They said they would have a meeting to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, we are struggling with this puppy and we need to find a safe space for her. We just wanted their help in finding a proper home. 2 days later they called us back and said after a meeting they won't take the dog back. We need to deal with it on our own and the manager suggested we contact the S.D.H.S. So this "rescue" passed the buck.
We contacted S.D.H.S. who said H.W. adopted her out so they should take her back. They give a bad name to rescues. They go out to NM, NV, TX, MX all over to seek out puppies (almost always only puppies) to sell at high prices. Then if someone needs to surrender them they end up in the already over populated shelters. They don't rescue and help or even honestly care for the well being of these pups. They are only a business and want to collect money and wipe their hands of any actual rescue work. Please steer clear of these posers. I have met SEVERAL people who have gotten dogs with behavioral issues from H.W. and have to spend so much on behaviorists. I am so sad and disappointed for both my family and our puppy.

People are rather snooty. Not very welcoming to people wanting to adopt and personnel act like they're doing you a favor. Disappointing.

I'm 52 years old, it's Saturday and we're watching the dog wisperer with my mom who's in hospice. Sitting next to her is my 100 lb plus pit bull who she loves dearly. He is from a shelter and the best friend/dog I've ever had. We got to talking about our love for animals and how it started. 40 years ago my mom got my brother and I involved in volunteering at the center. We would spend every Saturday learning and caring for all the animals. It has turned out to be one of the most valuable learning experiences of our lives. I even made a six foot long latch hook rug version of their logo that hung on the wall for years... not sure if it is still around. The time I spent there taught me compassion and responsibility. The center has definitely changed my life for the better ... thanks ... and thanks to my mom for getting us involved. Keep up the great work ... you are changing the lives of both people and animals.

Places like this keep breeders in business. They have an attitude about them, and a process that is terrible. If you go here, dont expect to get a dog, as they have very set ideas on who should have there dogs. This is based on multiple visits, not just one. Want a shelter dog, avoid this place at all costs. Dogs are very expensive, about $500. I would recommend a county animal shelter. Always had good luck with them.

Amazing! Well kept and nice and tidy. I enjoy going there to look at what they have. I have never adopted but i wish i could!

First of all horrid service. Was looking to adopt a puppy. I search their website for adoption requirements and fees, found none on their website. Decided to go visit even though its 45 minutes from my house. Got there, took a look at their pups and was surprised by how expensive they are we're talking about 400 dollars, plus you gotta buy a leash and collar to take the dog with you. Then went to front desk to see about meeting two of the pups we saw and the guy and girl ignored us for a good 5 minutes even though we were the only ones standing there. We applied and when they found out that we wanted an indoor outdoor dog an old lady came up to us and said in a really rude manner that the dogs were not allowed outdoors that we better look for a dog elsewhere. I found it weird that they are very adamant in keeping their dogs indoors yet they keep theirs outside and their cages are full of pee. If I'm going to pay 400 dollars for a dog you can't tell me where to keep it. I don't recommend this place and would never adopted from here much less donate, seeing as they make lots of money of the dogs and their party/tours.

They want 200-480$ to adopt a dog and from what I've seen the dogs are kept outside.

My daughter did a week-long summer camp at Helen Woodward. She loved every minute of it. The staff is awesome with kids and they teach valuable lessons about conservation.

Great for camps and parties. A wonderful place to find a forever pet or donate your time and money.

A good tour for school kids. Animal center ,you can pet animals and learn more about the animals.

Great people, great dogs
I adopted a Basset Hound in 1991 and a Sealyham Terrier. Both fit into the family immediately.

We love Helen Woodward Animal Sanctuary. We adopted Zoe (aka Molly) from there and she is the best little girl ever! If you are considering getting a new family member, check out Helen Woodward.

HWAC hosted a wonderful conference and was extremely accommodating! They truly put the care of their animals as a top priority, and their staff is friendly & helpful!

The facility had ample space in the kennels for the animals and a large play area; however, many of the animals are outside, and while there's some shade in the kennels, many of the dogs appeared to be over-heated. Additionally, my roommate and I were asking to see one of their dogs, and because we were not going to adopt that day, we were very loudly told that we could not see the dog. The woman spoke in an extremely condescending manner, and the others around us began to stare, as she explained that meeting the dogs was only for people who were "serious" about adopting. It was embarrassing and very upsetting, as we both are very excited to care for a dog and hope to do so soon. My roommate and I intend on adopting in the upcoming months, but we need to spend some time interacting with different breeds, as she has a mild allergy. We certainly won't come back here to adopt.

A great place where you can tell they really care. Get there early if you have your heart set on a pet you saw online.

Let s start ofc by saying it s hard to give a shelter 3 stars.



We weren t greeted with common hellos. The staff seemed extremely stressed.

We came there to see two specific dogs. One lady yelled at us, like we were at an auction then covered up said dogs saying they weren t adoptable in a quite aggressive way. We were floored... so we decided to meet other pups.

Another individual kindly and finally informed us that the pups we originally wanted to meet were sick. If we would have been given this info initially, we would have understood!

We met a couple pups that day but are so relieved we rescued our pup elsewhere.

Friendly staff/volunteers and they love and take wonderful care of all animals.

Amazing. All the pets were in air conditioning. All pets looked healthy and well taken care of

We adopted a puppy and the experience was fine. Most staff were helpful. We appreciated that our pet seemed to have excellent medical care. I wish the exams would have included weight sine that was an issue for our girl. The fact is they gave us a "10 lb" dog who actually weighed 15 lbs. and the recommended food was amount was insufficient.

I have taken both my dogs to the vet there for years. They are affordable, friendly, do a great job with the dogs and 99% of the time you get in at the time of your appointment instead of waiting in the waiting room for hours.

Under reconstruction and almost zero animals available. Also, way, way off the main roads, there are many shelters closer to civilization.

So amazing, the work they are doing. Animals are loved and we'll cared for while they wait to be adopted to their forever home. Education department is awesome..well informed and interactive with the public. Justin is a great educator. So knowledgeable about the animals and makes learning fun for all ages

The staff is great! They are friendly and knowledgeable. They helped me find the right dog for me & my pack.

The most loving and warm place to get a new pet. As I understand it, the pets here go through a selection and care process that results in a very good pet. This facility is non euthanizing and they will keep a dog or cat for years if they have to.
I absolutely love the pets I have got here.
It really shows the care that is given to these loved ones.
They won't give a pet out until you know what you are getting into. For instance there was a great looking dog called Guacamole that we liked but after we told them about our kids they said that he was not a good fit for our family as he could injure the kids (jumps a lot).
Anyway, there is no better place to get a pet imho.

I.HATE.THIS.PLACE. All of the workers were rude and acted like they were better than me. They refused me a puppy that my children wanted extremely bad. We just lost our dog of 13 years, and my son had been looking for another puppy. He saw Capitan and fell in love. But when we went to adopt him, they said no. And 500 dollars for a puppy?! Those are breeder prices! Stay away from this place.

Very clean for a shelter. Didn't smell like urine and the animals looked well taken care of. We adopted Duke on Valentine's day and couldn't be happier with our decision to adopt through Helen Woodward. The adoption is pricey but I'm assuming it's to pay for all the "free" tickets and perks of adoption here.

Pick out a great Senior cat. She's the sweetest baby ever! Staff was great, and accommodating.

Sold me a puppy who they claim was healthy but was near death. $547 paid for the puppy. $1825.00 in vet bills over the next week. Told me they would refund the puppy purchase. It's been over a month with no refund. Thank god Amex handled it.

Darren Chaker at Helen Woodward Animal Shelter is a great place to adopt animals, volunteer time, and relax.

We traveled to the H.W. Animal Center to attend a Birthday Party. I never knew you could have a party here. The party space is very open with activities and tables/chairs to enjoy. The party hostesses did a amxing job at face painting and showing us a few a different animals chosen by the Birthday Girl. I would definitely recommend to have a party here. Worth the drive to North County.

Beautiful facility and very clean. I went on a Sunday after they had 21 adoptions the day before so there wasn't many dogs left. Will be back again!

San Diego pet training is great!
We have adopted two dogs from Helen Woodward that are wonderful!!!

Best place ever to purchase a healthy and quality pet.

To adopt all my dogs from Helen Woodward, they have a great reputation

Amazing facilities and programming. Took my younger siblings here for a veterinarian summer camp for kids and they loved it.

Charlene and I had the most amazing experience at Helen Woodward today. The staff is so friendly and caring, and wanted to help us find the perfect dog that fit with our family. We had about 6 or so puppies on our list to see. As soon as we saw Harold it was an instant love connection. My family and I fell in love! He rolled over onto his back right when we walked up to see him! We couldn't be more happy with our new addition to our family. Harold! We'd like to personally thank Brittney & Adele for giving amazing service and going above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met as well as Harold's needs!

They saved my friend Charlie (the horse's) Life! Best Place ever!

If you are looking to adopt a dog/ puppy or cat/kitten think shelter first. There are so many animals that get euthanized every few days its heartbreaking.
We looked for our dog for months. In the grandness of the search we could have taken whatever we saw first. However connecting to an animals is like finding love. It s not easy, nor is it as simple as choosing. After checking all our local shelters, trying to find that perfect dog for my daughter. We could not find a fit that was connecting with our family. So we waited.
Originally my daughter wanted a husky. For years she begged me, mommy can we get a puppy? And I had to say, not yet, we don t have room for a dog ...Until we moved and finally after 8 years of promises I could fulfill her dream of getting a dog.
It was a Saturday afternoon, we did our normal summer routine of going to the beach. We were enjoying the sun when something compelled my daughter to check the Helen Woodward website for a dog. Then we saw her! A tan, white, with black markings. A mix between a grey hound and a Great Dane. Her name was Narwhal. Immediately my daughter showed me and I said well let s go! We packed up the car and headed to the shelter.
We looked at many puppies. We even got to spend time with the ones we liked. In the end it was Narwhal that stole our hearts. She greeted each of us. She was exciting! Jumping about giving kisses! We finally found her, the perfect dog at the Helen Woodward shelter.
We got free tickets to sea world with the adoption, plus a horn blower boat ride on the bay good for a year. They also include all the information about your pet in a special folder.
It was a special day, one we will never forget!

We adopted our loveable kitten at Helen Woodard. The staff were very helpful during the adoption process. They are very organized and make sure that all pets have the proper vaccinations for their age and medical care prior to adoption (my vet told me that they are the best at this).

Fantastic place to adopt. We adopted a Jesper 6 months ago and he was so well taken care of at Helen Woodward. He's been a great dog for us and we are grateful. They are strict with potential adopters to keep the animals safe. My son has also done the camp and enjoyed it.